The Jazz.com Blog

Here is a glimmer of good news—actually a full sunburst of it, to be honest. New York (and other cities) will enjoy a big summer festival, and the man who made it happen, is the fellow who practically invented the concept. See the details below in a report from jazz.com’s arnold jay smith. T.G.

Newport Jazz Festival impresario George Wein has done it again. The founder and producer of the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals has partnered with Carefusion, a soon-to-be-publicly traded health technology corporation, to present jazz festivals around the world. The announcement was made at City Winery (more about that later) before a gaggle of New York press cognoscenti, including a large contingent from Jazz at Lincoln Center. (You may draw your own conclusions from that.)

A beaming Wein introduced Carefusion C.E.O. David Schlotterbeck who announced that they wished to expand their public exposure and “what better way to do that than to partner with George Wein and his festivals.” The banner will reflect the new partnership. Beginning in Newport this year, the Wein/Carefusion Jazz Festivals will include Chicago, Monterey, Paris and Manley (Sydney) Australia. Only Newport and New York events will be produced by Wein. The festivals are scheduled for 2009, except for New York, which will take place in June 2010. There is a one-year contract with options for more.

Carefusion will spinoff from the parent Cardinal Health in a presumed I.P.O. Timetable TBA. According to Schlotterbeck the company’s main goal is to eliminate and prevent in-hospital accidents and germ warfare, i.e., patients getting sicker from human negligence and being attacked by unsanitary conditions.

“Music is a healer,” he said. “It has a way of relaxing patients. We plan on broadcasting selected jazz festival music into hospitals."

The press conference was held fittingly at City Winery, the new Michael Dorf-operated restaurant and jazz club in SoHo. Fittingly, because Wein is an oenephile (see Wein’s OctoJAZZarian profile here). According to Dorf—founder of the Knitting Factory—“we actually produce wine here. And now we are going to bring jazz to City Winery on a seven-day basis.” David Sanborn was mentioned.

The news of the demise of New York City’s June jazz festival as sponsored by a Japanese stereo equipment manufacturer hit hard. Not only were the jazz venues blindsided but so to the ancillaries, such as restaurants, hotels, gift shops and the like. Those suddenly un-sponsored events hit other cities as hard, perhaps harder as there may have been no other jazz options. The Carefusion infusion comes as a welcome respite in these troubled times. One is reminded of the 1929 stock market crash when J.P. Morgan stepped up to the plate. This jazz optimist envisions better and continued results.